Читать книгу Men Against the Sea – Book Set. The Greatest Maritime Adventure Novels: The Bounty Trilogy, Lost Island, The Hurricane, Botany Bay, The Far Lands, Tales of the South Seas… онлайн

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Nelson was asleep almost at once; but returning strength had left me wakeful, and I lay for a long time gazing at the starlit sky. Purcell and the master lay close by, conversing in low tones. Perhaps they thought me asleep; in any event, I could not avoid overhearing what they said. After a time, I perceived that their talk had turned to the mutiny.

“Ungrateful?” the carpenter was saying. “Damn my eyes! What had they to be grateful for? Christian was treated worse than a dog half the time. I excuse none of ’em, mind! I’d be pleased to see every man of the lot swinging at a yardarm; but I’ll say this: If ever a captain deserved to lose his ship, ours did.”

“If that’s your feeling, why didn’t you join with Christian?” said Fryer.

“It’s no love for Captain Bligh that kept me from it, I’ll promise you that,” said Purcell. “He’s himself to thank for the mutiny, and so I’ll say if we’ve the luck to get home.”

“He has his faults,” said Fryer. “He trusts none of his officers to perform their duties, but must have a hand in everything. But if you think him a Tartar, you should sail with some of the captains I’ve served under. There was old Sandy Evans! The last topman off the yard got half a dozen with a colt. He called it ‘encouraging’ them.”